Small-business owners more pessimistic on business conditions

Small-business owners more pessimistic on business conditions

Small-business owners were slightly more pessimistic in September than August, especially about future business conditions, according to a poll of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).

Part of the problem is uncertainty about the federal government. Between botched healthcare implementation and one manufactured crisis after another, consumers and small business owners are likely to remain pessimistic, accepting the notion that growth is going to be subpar and that their government is likely to continue in dysfunctional mode for months to come, says NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg.

Nearly one-fourth of owners said regulations and red tape were their No. 1 business problem, 18 percent said taxes and 17 percent said poor sales.

The survey also found that job creation was down slightly in September, as it was in each of the past four months, except August. Twenty percent of owners reported job openings they could not fill (up 1 point from August), and 14 percent reported using temporary workers (down 2 points). Most of the jobs created will likely be dominated by part-time workers as owners hedge their hiring while they try to fathom the healthcare law regulations and penalties, says the NFIB.